Newell's Old Boys still dream of Lionel Messi return

Martin Macdonald

20 Jan 2026 04:30 CST
3 min read

It seems Newell's Old Boys aren't giving up hope that Lionel Messi could one day return to his boyhood club.

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Before he became the worldwide superstar we all know at Barcelona, the Argentine was a youngster making waves in Rosario.

Newell's developed him before he and his family made the brave decision to move to Spain so Messi could be part of La Masia, with Barcelona paying his medical expenses for growth hormone treatment.

The club has a place in Messi's heart and there has been continued speculation that he may, one day, return.

Messi vs everyone 😳#UCL pic.twitter.com/aNc3mfOjUw
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 15, 2026

That is looking unlikely at the moment as he recently signed a three-year extension with Inter Miami until 2028, but recently-appointed head coaches Favio Orsi and Sergio Gomez say Newell's still dream of he Argentine hero coming home.

Orsi told ESPN: “Everyone at Newell's, including us, thinks it would be wonderful if he had the chance to play for his club and in his city.”

Gomez added: “It would be a dream not only for our fans, but for the whole country.”

These comments aren't totally out of the blue, either, as a candidate for the Newell's presidency recently spoke about Messi's return also.

“First we have to see if Messi is eager to connect with Newell's." Guillermo Munoz explained to TNT Sports.

“I may really want Messi to come, but it's not enough to just say, 'someday, someday.' I see Messi and he makes me cry. But that doesn't mean he's above the club at all.”

Two figures who did help Newell's out in a time of need were Diego Maradona and Tata Martino.

But, Munoz insists there is no pressure on Messi to return.

“One day, Maradona said: ‘I’m going to play in Newell's,'" Munoz explained.

"One day Tata Martino said: ‘I’m going to lend a hand in Newell's.'

"Messi has no commitment or obligation to Newell's. But if he really wants to come, he'd have to say so.”

Messi is tied to Inter Miami until 2028.

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